Adjustable yarn tension device



H. O. NAUMANN v ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSION DEVICE March 26, 1946. 2,397,153

Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 El 2; I6 3' y N BY I March 26,1946. o. NAUMANN ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSIFON DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I

Herbert 0. Ndumdnn BY M w 71 ATTOR/VE H. OFNAUMANN ADJUSTABLE YARNTENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1944 March 26, 1946.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Her bar! 0. Naumarm BY@Mf/- March 26, 1946. H", NAUMANN 2,397,153

ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y J80 6a /-9 A I /7'A.

INVENTOR. Herbert O. -Naumom1 March 26, 1946. Q NAUMANN I ADJUSTABLEYARN TENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 as so 79 90 aa7/ INVENTOR. Herbert O. Noumea/m BY /2 0 x/ Patented Mar. 26, 1946ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSION DEVICE Herbert 0. Naumann, Englewood, N. J.,assignor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application January 20, 1944, Serial No. 519,016

14 Clainis.

This invention relates to an improvement in yarn tension devices for usein connection with twisting devices of the type illustrated in U. S.Patent No. 2,013,023 issued September 3, 1935 to Bochmann and Lenk inwhich the thread is drawn over the top of a stationary unwindingpackage,

. conducted downwardly through the center of the package and a hollowtwisting spindle and thence radially and upwardly around. the stationarypackage and through a pigtail guide to the winding spool.

In order to control the amount ballooning of the thread around thestationary package and for other purposes, it has been found desirableto employ thread tensioning devices such as those disclosed in U. S.Patent 1,170,153 issued March 11, 1930 to Andrew and Langstreth,1,826,354 issued October 6, 1931 to Lenk and 2,240,153 issued April 29,1941 to Carter, et a1. Such tensioning devices while serving admirablyin controlling the ballooning and the twisting of the thread, fail toprovide for the ready adjustment of the thread tension.

The primary object of the present invention is the precise tensioning ofthe thread to a predetermined degree as it leaves the stationary packageand prior to its entrance into the rotary twisting spindle.

Another object of the invention is the rapid adjustment of the threadtension to the desired degree and the maintenance of the thread tensionadjustment throughout the operation.

A further object is to facilitate the initial threading of the deviceand its rethreading in case of thread breakage during operation.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this inventionwhich embodies among its features yarn engaging elements cooperating toencompass yarn passing through the device, and a rotatable bonnet by therotation of which the yarn engaging elements may be made to engage theyarn under varying degrees of pressure.

Another feature is the complete manual separation of the yarn engagingelements was to clear the yarn path to facilitate the threading of thedevice without disturbing the adjustment of the pressure exerted on theyarn by the elements once they are again released.

A further featureof the invention embodies means to releasably hold theyarn engaging elements clear of the yarn path to facilitate threadingup, which means may be easily and quickly released once the threading ofthe device has been threaded.

Still further features reside in apparatus for holding the rotatable capin its adjusted position and against accidental rotation once the properyarn tension has been established and also means to visibly indicate thedegree of tension under which the yarn passes through the device.

In carrying the invention into practice I employ apparatus and equipmentsuch as that disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a twisting spindle and yarnpackage showing this improved tension device in position thereon,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 andlooking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 looking in the direction opposite thearrows,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in position forthreading up,

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view through.

the yarn tension device illustrated in Fig. 11, taken as the line I2--l2thereof,

Fig. 13, is an enlarged side view of. the yarn tensioning mechanismemployed in the device of Fig. 11, and 1 Fig. 14 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view taken on the line l4--l4 of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a conventional twisting spindle l5carries at its upper end a thread guide l6 upon which the lower end of ayarn package I! rests. This package includes the usual spool l8 (Fig. 3)which surrounds a spool support l9 and a cap 20 rests upon the upper endof the spool all in the conventional manner. The stationary portion 2|(Fig. 3) of the spindle structure carries at its upper end a yarn guide22 which in the present instance comprises a conical cap having acentral aperture through which the yarn 23 passes on its way downthrough the package to the twisting spindle 15 (see Fig. 1).

Supported at the upper end of the spool support I9 is a base 24 having acentral aperture 25 through which the upper end of the conical cap 22projects. Surrounding the aperture 25 in spaced relation thereto is acylindrical wall 26 the upper end of which is grooved as at 21. Theouter wall of the groove projects above the general height of the wall26 and is internally screw threaded to receive an externally threadedcompression ring 28 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafterdescribed. The threaded portion of the outer wall of the groove istapped to receive a set screw 29 so that the compression ring 28 may belocked against accidental rotation.

Secured to the upper face of the base 24 is a column 30 which isprovided in one side with spaced notches in which yarn engaging fingers3| are secured. The yarn engaging edges of these fingers are concave inplan as shown at 32 in Figs. 4, and 6, though in the opposite planethey'are smoothly rounded to avoid injury to the yarn as it passes overthem. The concave edges 32 are arranged in vertical alignment, and atthe extreme depth of each concavity the fingers align with the axis ofthe opening 25 through the base 24. Such a structure presents in efiecta stationary concave jaw over which the yarn passes as it moves from thepackage II to the twisting spindle l5.

Extending laterally from the column 30 near its lower and upper ends arebrackets 33 each of which is formed with an opening for the reception ofa pivot pin 34 about which a yoke 35 is adapted to swing. Mounted forrotation about the pivot pin 34, independent of the movement of the yoke35, is a pinion 36 in which is anchored the end of a coil spring 31which surrounds the pivot pin 34. The opposite end of the coil spring 31extends laterally (Figs. 5 and 6) and terminates in a hook 38 whichengages the yoke 35 to yieldingly move it toward or away from the column30. Secured at spaced intervals to the yoke 35 are curved fingers 39having concave yarn engaging edges. These fingers 39 are so positionedon the yoke 35 that they enter the spaces between fingers 3| on thecolumn 30 and bring the concave edges of the two sets of fingers intoengagement with yarn. passing through the device. Thus it will beunderstood that the structure just described forms in effect a movableconcave jaw which cooperates with the fixed jaw structure inencompassing the path of the yarn passing across the fingers 3| and 39.

Mounted for rotation in the groove 21 in the upper end of thecylindrical wall 26 is a bonnet 4| carrying at its upper end a yarnguide 42. The lower end of the bonnet is provided with an outwardlyextending peripheral flange 43 which rides on the bottom of the groove21 beneath the compression ring 28. Seated on the flange 43 below thering 28 is an undulated spring ring 44 (Figs. 3, 9 and Secured to thebonnet 4| and meshing with the pinion 36 is an internal ring gear 45which upon. rotation will rotate the pinion 36 and thus impart rotarymotion to the spring 31 so as to cause the yoke 35 to swing about itspivot pin 34. A pointer 46 which is secured to the exterior of thebonnet 4| cooperates with graduations 41 around the periphery of thewall 26 (Fig. 1) to indicate the pressure exerted by the fingers on theyarn passing through the device.

Extending radially through the cylindrical wall 26 below the groove 21and diametrically opposite the pivot pin 34 is a bushing 48 throughwhich a shaft 49 extends. Secured to the outer end of the shaft 49 is alever 50 which is curved to follow the general contour. of the wall 26and terminates in a pressure plate 5|. Secured to the inner end of theshaft 49 is an upstanding lever 53 the upper end of which is adapted toengage an extension 54 carried by one of the fingers'39. One end of 'aretractile coil spring 55 is anchored to the lever intermediate itsends, and the opposite end of said spring is fastened to a pin 56carried by and extending outwardly from the column 39. Seated in arecess at the outer end of the bushing 48 and surrounding the shaft 49is a compression coil spring 51 which serves to hold the lever 53against the inner end of the bushing so as to avoid undue chattering ofthe parts.

In operation the yarn 23 leaving the package is carried upwardly overthe upper end of and down through-the center of the yarn guide 42 asshown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. Leaving the yarn guide 42 the yarnenters the tension device and passes between the fingers 32 and 39.Pressure on the pressure plate 5| causes the shaft 49 to rotate and'movethe lever 53 against the pull of the spring 55. Such movement of thelever 53 causes it to engage the extension 54 and move the yoke 35 aboutits pivot against the pressure of the spring 31 so as to move themovable fingers 39 away from the fingers 3| to clear the yarn. path(Fig. 6) and allow a free entry of the yarn into and through the tensiondevice. The end of the yarn is then passed downwardly through the yarnguide 22, package l1 and twisting spindle l5 and thence upwardly overthe exterior of the yarn guide l6 and 1 through a pigtail guide 51 to asuitable yarn package (not shown). After threading up the device asabove described the pressure on the pressure plate 5| is released andthe parts are allowed to resume their normal operating position. Thepressure of the fingers .39 against the yarn and hence its tension maybe varied by rotating the bonnet 4| which in turn rotates the pinion 36and loads the spring 31 to difierent degrees. The degree of tension onthe yarn in grams is indicated by the position of the pointer 46 withrelation to the graduations 41 on the outer surface ofthe cylindricalwall '26 as above described. The pressure exerted by the spring ring 44on the flange 43 of the bonnet 42 serves to hold the bonnet againstaccidental rotation. This pressure may be increased or decreased byturning the ring 28 with relation to the wall 26, and accidentaldisplacement of these parts can be obviated by tightening the set screw29 against the ring 28 after proper adjustment of the pressure of thespring ring 44 upon the flange 43 has been eflected.

In the modification of the tension device illustrated in Figs. 11through 14 inclusive, the principal features of the device previouslydescribed have been retained, but the structure has been modified tomake use of yarn engaging elements of the type illustrated in Patent No.2,240,153 issued April 29, 1941 to R. H. Carter et. al.

As illustrated in Fig. 11, the tension device is associated with theconventional yarn package |'|A which includes a spool |8A supported inthe conventional manner by a spool support |9A and carryin at its upperend a cap 20A. The stationary hollow upper portion 2 |A of the twistingspindle is fitted with a plug 60 having a central opening 6| throughwhich the thread 23A passes on its way to the rapidly rotating twistingspindle.

Secured to the upper end of the spindle 2 lAls a socket carrying at itsupper end a hollow housing 82 of substantially cylindrical conflgura...tion which is counterbored adjacent its upp r end and internally.screw-threaded to. receive an externally screw-threaded ring 83. Seatedon the shoulder formed by the counterbore of the housing 82 is the loweredge of a bonnet 64 which is provided with an outwardly extendingperipheral flange '65 for engagement with an undulated spring 66corresponding to the spring 44 (Fig. previously described. Asillustrated this spring is located between the flange 65 and the ring 63so that rotation of the ring will cause the spring 68 to bear withgreater or lesser degrees of pressure on the flange. The bonnet 64tapers toward its upper end and terminates in a yarn guide 61 which isformed with a central aperture 68 aligning with the opening 6| in theplug 6|! (F18. 11). Secured to the inner side of the wall of the bonnet64 adjacent the junction of the cylindrical and tapered portions thereofis an internal ring gear 69 which meshes with the drive gear of the yarntension mechanism to be more fully hereinafter described.

The yarn tension mechanism above referred to designated generally 10embodies an arcuate base plate ii and frame member 12 comprising anarcuate bridge member 13 having legs 7 at opposite ends which areprovided at their free ends with outwardly turned flanges 14A forcontact with the base plate ll adjacent opposite ends. The plate El andthe flanges MA are pierced to receive fastening screws 15 (Fig. 12)by'means of which the frame member 12 is secured within the housing t2beneath the bonnet t3. Rotatably mounted in aligned openings in the baseplate ll and the bridge member 13 and symmetrical about the center ofcurvature of said base plate and bridge member are shafts l6 and El.Each of these shafts is pierced near its lower end to receive a pin itby means of which lever arms F9 are secured to the shafts for rotationtherewith. Near their upper ends, th shafts l6 and Ti are pierced toreceive pins 80 by means of which levers 8| are secured thereto. Theselevers are provided with toothed segments 82 which mesh with one anotherso that rotation of one of said shafts will impart rotation to the othershaft in'the opposite direction. Loosely mounted for rotation about theshaft 16 near the upper end thereof is a pinion 83 which meshes with thering gear 69 when the bonnet tit is in place, so that upon rotation ofthe bonnet the pinion 83 will also rotate. Surrounding the shaft 16 andencompassing the hub of the lease the extensions and their accompanyingI mechanism.

Carried at the extreme ends of the levers 8| opposite those secured tothe shafts l6 and 11 are pivot-pins 94 by means of which thread engaginelements 95 ar pivotally secured to the levers 8|. lP-he thread engagingelements or Jaws herein preferably employed are of a constructionsimilar to those disclosed in Patent No. 2,240,153 issued April 29, 1941to R. H. Carter et 9.1., though any type of thread engaging elementmaybe used within the scope of this invention.

In order that the degree of tension on the thread may be readilydetermined, I find it desirable to aflix to the bonnet 64 a pointer 96which cooperates with graduations 81 carried by the housing 62.

The operation of the modified form of the invention is quite similar tothat above described but will be briefly described below.- Rotation ofthe bonnet 64 causes the ring gear 69 to rotate the pinions 83 so as tocause the spring 84 to be loaded to a greater or lesser degree. Byreason of the anchorage of the spring to the lever arm 19 fixed to shaftE6 the pressure of the spring will be transmitted to the lever 8|mounted at th upper end of the shaft 16, and such pressure will betransmitted by means of the toothed segments 82 to the lever 8| mountedat the upper end of the shaft l1. It will thus be seen that the freeends of the levers 8| will be urged toward one another under greater orlesser pressure according to the degree of movement of the bonnet 64with relation to the housing 62. When it is desired to clear the yarnpath of all obstructions, as in the threading-up of the device, pressureis exerted on the pressure plates 89 to cause the extensions 88 to movetoward one another and thus cause the free ends of the levers 8| toseparate and carry the yarn engaging elements 95 into the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 12 and clear of the yarn path. When the yarnengaging elements reach their extreme open position the pins 90 carriedby the extensions 88 will be engaged in th notches of the latch 9| sothat the parts will be held in such position until released by pressureon the serrated extension 93, at which time the parts will be returnedto their normal operating ositions under the influence of the spring 84;and operation pinion t3 and the lever arm 19 is a coil spring 84,

the upper end of which is anchored in the pinion s8 while its. lower endis anchored in the lever arm 19 (Fig. 13).

Projecting outwardly from the housing 52 is a ledge 85 having adepression 86. A slot 81 (Figs. 11 and 14) is formed in the housingadjacent the ledge 85, and secured to the lever arms 19 are extensions88 which project outwardly through the slot and terminate in pressureplates 89 by means of which the lever arms is and shafts l6 and i1 maybe moved against the tension of the spring 8 3. Carried by theextensions 88 are depending pins 90 which are adapted to be engaged by alatch 9| mounted for reciprocal movement in the depression 86 when theextensions are moved toward one another. The latch 8| is urged upwardlyby means of the springs 92, and the latch is formed. with a serratedextension 93 by means of which it may be depressed against the springs'92 to reresumed without in any way interfering with the tensionadjustment.

While in the foregoing there'has been shown and' described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details, construction, combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What is claimed is: I p

1. In a tension device ya'rn engaging elements cooperating to encompassa yarn path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarnpath and enclosing said elements and means actuated by rotation of thebonnet to regulate the pressure of said elements upon yam passing alongthe yarn path.

2. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass ayam path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn pathand enclosing said elements'..yielding means actuated by rotation of thebonnet to regulate the pressure of said elements upon yarn passing alongthe yarn path-and means to separate the elements and clear the yarn pathto facilitate threading'up.

3. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass ayarn path. a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements, yielding meansactuated by rotation of the bonnet to regulate the.

assure crating to encompass a yarn path, a rotatable to separate theelements and clear the yarn path to facilitate threading up. a

' 4 In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompus ayarn path, a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements, a yarn guidecarried by the bonnet for directing yarn into the yarn path and meansactuated by rotation of the bonnet to advance or retract at least one orthe yarn engaging elements and thereby regulate the pressure of theelements upon yarn passing along the yarn p u 5. In a tension deviceyarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass a yarn ath, a rotatablebonnet enclosing said elements. a yarn guide carried by the bonnet fordirecting yarn into the yarn path, yielding means actuated by rotationof the bonnet to advance or retract at least one of the yarn engagingelements and thereby regulate the pressure of the elements upon yampassing along the yarn path and means to separate the elements and clearthe yarn path to facilitate threading up. v

6. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass ayarn path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn pathand enclosing said elements, means actuated by rotation of the bonnet toregulate the pressure of the elements upon yarn passing along the y pathand means to hold the bonnet against accidental rotation.

7. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass ayarn path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn athand enclosing said elements, means actuated by rotation of the bonnet toregulate the pressure of the elements upon yarn passing along the yarnpath and adjustable means yieldingly engaging the bonnet to cause it toresist rotation.

8. In a tension device a housing, yarn engaging elements within thehousing, said elements cooperating to encompass a yarn path, a bonnetassociated with the housing, said bonnet being rotatable about an axisaligning with the yarn path and enclosing said yarn encompassingelements, means carried by the housing and actuated by rotation of thebonnet to regulate the pressure of the elements upon yarn passing alongsaid yarn path and means to cause the bonnet to resist rotation withrelation to the housing. J

9. In a tension device-a housing. yarn engaging elements within thehousing. said elements coop= 0f the yarn path.

bonnet associated with the housingand-enclosing said yarn encompassingelements, means carried by the housin and actuated by rotationoi" thebonnet to advance or retract at least one of the yarn engaging elementsand thereby regulat the pressure or the elements upon yarn passing alongsaid yarn ath, means to cause the bonnet to resist rotation withrelation tofthe housing and means to vary the resistance of the bonnetto such rotation. a

10. In a tension device fixed yarn engaging elements. movable yarnengaging elements, said elements' cooperating 'to encompass a yarn path,a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn path andenclosing the elements and means actuated by rotation of the bonnet toadvance or retract the movable elements with relation to the yarn path.c

11. In a tension device fixed yarn engaging elements, movable yarnengaging elements, said ele ments cooperating o encompass a yarn path, arotatable bonnet enclosing the elements, yieldable means actuated byrotation of the bonnet to advance or retract the movable elements withrelation to the yarn path and means to move the movable elements againstthe yielding means to clear the yarn path and facilitate threading up.

12. In a tension device a fixed series of spaced yarn engaging elements,a movable series of yarn engaging elements, said elements cooperating toencompass a yarn path, a rotatable bonnet en- I circling the elements,yieldable means actuate by rotation-of the bonnet to advance or retractthe movable series of elements in unison with relation to the yarn path,and a lever operable from the exterior of the device for moving themovable elements in unison to clear the yarn path and facilitatethreading up.

13. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompassa yarn path, a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements, means actuatedby rotation of the bonnet to move the elements into contact with yarnassin alon the yarn path under controlled degrees of pressure and meansto move the yarn engaging elements clear of the yarn path-to facilitatethreading up.

is. In a tension device yarn engaging elementscooperating to encompass ayarn path, a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements, means actuated byrotation of the bonnet to move the elements into contact with yarnpassing along the yarnpath under controlled degrees of pressure, meansto move the yarn engaging elements clear of the yarn path to facilitatethreading up and means to releasably hold the yarn engaging elementsclear

